UPDATE: Illini edge out Kent State in overtime; to play Tulsa for championship

Saturday

Nov 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2008 at 3:56 PM

If this were last season, senior guard Chester Frazier said, Illinois wouldn't have found a way to win in the closing minutes at the South Padre Island Invitational basketball tournament Friday.

John Supinie

If this were last season, senior guard Chester Frazier said, Illinois wouldn't have found a way to win in the closing minutes at the South Padre Island Invitational basketball tournament Friday.

"Not a chance,'' said Frazier, who played despite a deep thigh bruise. "We'd lose by two or three. That's last year. We're moving forward. We won that one. It's fun winning.''

Behind Frazier's latest purple-heart performance and a career-high 20 points plus seven rebounds and three blocks from sophomore center Mike Tisdale, Illinois rallied from a seven-point deficit with 60 percent shooting in the second half and edged out Kent State 69-63 Friday. The Illini, who improved to 5-0, play the Tulsa for the championship Saturday (7:30 p.m., Fox College Sports Atlantic). Tulsa defeated Texas A&M 67-56 Friday night.

The Illini went shoplifting on Black Friday. They didn't lead for 31 minutes before Tisdale hit two free throws for a 60-58 lead with 48.9 seconds left. In overtime, Tisdale scored Illinois' first six points, then the Illini held on with three consecutive free throws from sophomore forward Mike Davis.

"Chester is the high man on the play-hard chart,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "He guarded their best player and dives into the stands. He plays with a big heart and plays to win. I'm happy for him and happy for Tisdale. He made big shots.''

Davis also had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Illini, and it's apparent the Illini like playing with each other. They had 23 assists.

"It's easier to play with each other on the court (than last season),'' Tisdale said. "Nobody is selfish. That's a big part of this team. It was different last year. Some people were in it for themselves. We realized winning will get you where you want to go.''

Tisdale, the skilled 7-foot-1 sophomore from Riverton, needed to play rather than think, Weber said earlier this week. Tisdale scored 11 points after halftime, hitting a baseline 10-footer to tie the game at 56 with 2 minutes left. After his two free throws gave the Illini the lead, Tisdale's 18-footer bounced off to end regulation.

He came back by making three more shots in overtime, including a spinning 12-footer on the baseline for a 66-63 lead with 22.1 seconds left.

"We talked to Mike,'' Frazier said. "He's one of the better players on the team. The thing with him is he cares so much. His confidence goes when he misses a couple. He's really talented. He's hard to guard when he's popping and shooting the 15-footer.''

But the Illini pointed to Frazier's desire and toughness after he hobbled to the game after suffering the injury in practice Thursday. Despite pain that kept him from the shootaround, Frazier logged 42 minutes and finished with seven points, eight assists, only one turnover and a defensive effort that held Kent State star guard Al Fisher to four points after halftime.

His signature play came when he leaped over Richard Semrau and Stan Simpson to save a ball before landing in the first row in overtime.

"That was the play of the game,'' said Tisdale, who grabbed Frazier's pass inbounds before he crashed into a rail.

Illinois didn't score on the possessions, but it was another message from Frazier.

"I was going 100 miles per hour,'' Frazier said. "I was glad a couple of my teammates ducked. I thought I would clip one of their heads. It was the time of the game when we’re trying to keep possessions alive.''

Frazier planned to play Saturday even though Weber considered playing it safe and resting Frazier with Clemson coming to Assembly Hall on Tuesday.

"I would like to come out and surprise you,'' Frazier said. "I'll be fine. I don't want to sit out the championship game. We need all the wins we can get. I don't want to go 16-19 again.''

After Fisher scored 14 points in the first half, he managed only four points after halftime. He was 6-for-15 from the field. Not coincidentally, Kent State's lead evaporated despite three 3-pointers from reserve guard Mike McKee and 10 points after halftime from Anthony Simpson, a junior from Rockford.

Kent State (3-1) was picked to defend its Mid-American Conference title.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

Illinois report card

Front court: A

The questions heading into the year were pointed at center and power forward, but Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds against Kent State. If the rest of the Illini played as well as these two, it would have been a blowout.

Back court: C

While Chester Frazier gutted through the pain again, Demetri McCamey and Trent Meacham had trouble against the physical and aggressive Kent State perimeter. Meacham and McCamey combined to shoot 2-for-10 from the 3-point line.

Bench: D

The Illini found little contribution from Dominique Keller, who made a return to his home state, and senior Calvin Brock.

Overall: C

After looking like they were destined for a loss, the Illini made some defensive stops and finally showed some backbone late. This win doesn't hurt when building a resume, and the Illini kept winning -- and kept winning back some fans -- by finding a way to win.

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